What to Expect From Your Puppy’s First Vaccines

Vaccines are an important part of puppy parenthood. As your new best friend grows, these vaccines will help them fight against disease or lessen the effects if they do become affected. Vaccines are intended to be given on a strict schedule so that they have the immunity needed by the time they reach a specific age. You may be wondering what exactly you should expect from this procedure. You may wonder if you need anything specific for it. You might also be scared thinking about how your puppy is going to react.

Here is what you should expect when it comes to puppy vaccines.

The first round of shots that your pup is going to get include Distemper, Parvo, Corona and Bordatella.

During the Shots

During the time that the shots are administered, the dog is generally not in pain. Much like a human, they have a small pinch, then the shot is over. Your veterinary team will be quick and try to make it as painless as possible on the little one getting them.

Should I be worried about a vaccine reaction?

Side effects can occur, but please understand that this is very rare. Below are some of the warning signs of a vaccine reaction. While it is important to keep an eye out for any of these or other symptoms that are out of the ordinary, your pup will typically be just fine returning to his or her normal activity level on the same day of the appointment.

Possible indicators of a vaccine reaction include:

Loss of consciousness

Swelling anywhere in the body – injection site, legs, face

Hives anywhere on the body

Seizures

Disorientation

Difficulty breathing

It is important to contact your family veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms. He or she can provide you with more information on other things you should watch out for after the first round of shots.

Understanding Puppy and Kitten Immunity

It is important to keep any young pets away from other unknown animals; their immunity simply has not matured enough yet. When you’re unsure of whether or not these other pets have had their shots, then you must wait until your puppy or kitten have had all 3 of their booster shots before introducing them. This will reduce the chances of having your pet catch anything.

First vaccines are usually given around 6 to 8 weeks of age, though some may come in a bit later depending on when the owner gets the pet. It is important to bring them in for these shots as close to that date as possible. This can help them boost their immunity to many devastating diseases. One of the biggest for pups is Parvo. This disease only has less than a 20% survival rate. With the series of boosters, they reduce their chances tremendously of getting the disease.

Contact us today to schedule your pets first shots with us here at Heart of Florida Animal Hospital. You want to make sure you stay on top of the care that your pet needs, shots are just one of the many things that your pet should get throughout their lifetime.